Measurement / residue studyindependent cross-checkfull text checked I-SUG-06 standard review
How much sugar is in honey vs white sugar?
USDA FoodData Central: Honey (FDC 169640) and Sugars, granulated (FDC 169655), SR Legacy
Overview
US Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central (database) SR Legacy
Honey is about 82% sugar and 17% water; white sugar is almost 100% sugar.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Sugar content of honey vs white sugar.
- How was the study done?
Food composition database entries (official).
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable; Not applicable
- What was actually found?
Honey per 100 g: total sugars 82.1 g (fructose 40.9 g, glucose 35.8 g, sucrose 0.89 g), water 17.1 g, energy 304 kcal. Granulated sugar per 100 g: sucrose 99.8 g, total sugars 99.8 g, energy 387 kcal.
- How large was the observed effect?
82.1 vs 99.8 g/100 g
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Honey has slightly less sugar per gram than white sugar.
- What are the study's limitations?
US samples; honey composition varies by origin
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Composition is similar for honey sold in EU.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Health effects.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- US Department of Agriculture
- Journal
- FoodData Central (database)
- Year
- SR Legacy
- Identifier
- Verification
- verified – FoodData Central API fetch 2026-10-25: https://api.nal.usda.gov/fdc/v1/food/169640 and /169655 (web: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/169640/nutrients)
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- full text
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Not applicable
2. Research question
Sugar content of honey vs white sugar.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Measurement / residue study – Food composition database entries (official).
- Population
Not applicable
- Country
USA
- Period
SR Legacy
- Sample size
Not applicable
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Not applicable
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Honey; granulated sugar
- Comparator
Each other
- Endpoints
Composition per 100 g
- Statistical methods
Analytical data
5. Actual results
- Results
Honey per 100 g: total sugars 82.1 g (fructose 40.9 g, glucose 35.8 g, sucrose 0.89 g), water 17.1 g, energy 304 kcal. Granulated sugar per 100 g: sucrose 99.8 g, total sugars 99.8 g, energy 387 kcal.
- Absolute risks
not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Not applicable.
6. Strengths
- Official analytical database
7. Weaknesses
- US samples; honey composition varies by origin
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Database.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Contradicts C-SUG-03; supports C-SUG-02.
11. Independent contrary findings
None.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Composition is similar for honey sold in EU.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Reliable reference values.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | high |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | high |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Variation across honey types.
15. Linked fact checks
- Honey is chemically essentially sugar ('sugar knotted by the bee'); white sugar and honey are nutritionally similar. – Studies supporting the claim
- A spoon of honey contains five times more sugar than a spoon of white sugar. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim